We know how important it is to keep in touch. We publish news in lots of different ways. These are our official media releases, and articles provided to local papers.

We know how important it is to keep in touch. We publish news in lots of different ways. These are our official media releases, and articles provided to local papers.

Porirua City services at Alert Level 2

New
Zealand will move to Alert Level 2 at 11:59pm on Wednesday, 13 May.

This
will see some big changes in Porirua as many council facilities and services
are able to reopen at Level 2, but in a safe and limited way, says Porirua
Mayor Anita Baker.

“While
we move down a level it is still important to keep the wall of protection up.
That means staying home if you’re sick, regular hand washing, no gatherings of
more than 10, keeping records for contact tracing and maintaining social
distancing – two metres with strangers, and one metre in controlled areas,” she
says.

“We’ve
done so well as a nation and as a city – so let’s not lose the gains we’ve made
and keep up the great work.”

In
line with Government guidelines on physical distancing, gathering numbers and
safe practices the following will apply under Level 2:

Council
meetings

Council and Committee meetings will
return to Council chambers.

A
maximum of 10 members of the public (including media) will be able to attend.

Contact
tracing will be required (you’ll need to provide your name and contact
details).

Council
building – front counter services

The counter will operate normal hours
and offer a full service.

All
customers will be directed to a queue where they will provide their name and
contact details on an ipad for contact tracing.

No
cash will be accepted. Eftpos or paywave will be available with sanitisation of
handset after each transaction.

Customers
with appointments will be directed to a temporary meeting space.

All
visitors, including contractors, must sign in.

Screens
will be fitted at customer service points.

Libraries

All branches will reopen, with limited
hours at first. Please check the website for opening hours.

Some
services may not be available because of the need for physical distancing.

Contact
tracing will take place (you’ll need to provide your name and contact details).

Returned
items will be wiped down with disinfectant then quarantined for three days
before processing.

Public
computers will not be available in the first week of Level 2. Once available,
staff won’t be able to help customers use them due to physical distancing.

No
cash will be accepted. Eftpos or paywave will be available with sanitisation of
handset after each transaction.

Screens
will be fitted at customer service points.

Council
nursery

The nursery will reopen to the public once systems are in place to do so safely. The date is not confirmed yet.

Contact
tracing will take place (you’ll need to provide your name and contact details).

No
cash will be accepted. Eftpos or paywave will be available with sanitisation of
handset after each transaction.

Whenua
Tapu Cemetery and Chapel

Open, with physical distancing
requirements and limited numbers in the chapel.

Contact
tracing for all chapel visitors (you’ll need to provide your name and contact
details).

The
chapel will be cleaned after each service.

The
cemetery will be open to the public.

Any
cemetery payments will need to be made at the main Council offices, not the
depot.

Pātaka

Limits of 100 people in the facility.

Entrances
to the Spine will be managed by security guards to make sure contact tracing is
completed (you’ll need to provide your name and contact details).

Physical
distance markers and signage will be in place.

Staff
will work behind a screen at the counter.

Toi
Store will be open, with a one in, one out policy and no trying on of goods.

Hire
and meeting spaces will not be available for bookings.

No
cash will be accepted. Eftpos or paywave will be available with sanitisation of
handset after each transaction.

Kaizen
Café will reopen, with hours to be confirmed.

Arena
and Cannons Creek Pool

Contact tracing will be required (you’ll
need to provide your name and contact details).

Screens
will be fitted at customer service points.

No
cash will be accepted. Eftpos or paywave will be available with sanitisation of
handset after each transaction.

Lap
pools will be open with reduced numbers and wider lanes.

The
leisure pool will be open with restricted numbers.

The
toddler pool, steam room and sauna will be closed.

Spa
pools will be open with restricted numbers.

Aquarobic
classes will not be running.

Learn
to Swim will be operating with restricted attendees and a modified programme.

Te
Rauparaha Arena and Arena Fitness

No events will be held during Level 2.

Meeting
rooms will not be available for general hire.

The
fitness centre will open with restricted numbers.

Group
fitness will operate with a reduced timetable and class sizes.

Arena
Café will reopen, with hours to be confirmed.

Animal
control

Usual animal control services will
resume, but any payments will need to be made at the main Council building not
the pound.

The
pound will be open 11am to 2pm on weekdays but closed weekends and public
holidays.

Contact
tracing will be in place for all visitors (you’ll need to all provide your name
and contact details).

Physical
distancing will be observed.

Screens
will be fitted at customer service points.

Depot
offices

Depot office closed to the public.

Pre-arranged
visitors will need to provide contact tracing details.

Operations
support services

The Streetworks team will continue their
usual services.

Community
Halls

Closed to the public while numbers are
restricted to 10 people.

Dogs

Dogs can be off-leash in the areas this
is usually allowed, provided they’re under control and staying 1m from others.

Dog
parks will reopen, but physical distancing should be kept in mind.

Parks

Playgrounds will reopen after a thorough
clean and maintenance check.

Skate
parks will be open.

Mountain
bike tracks are open

Courts,
turf and sportsgrounds will be open and bookings can be made as usual.

The
Splash pad at Aotea Lagoon is open.

Picnic
areas are open but please keep numbers to 10 or under. Our public BBQs are closed
for now, as a safety precaution.

Public
toilets

All
public toilets are open and being cleaned as usual.

Spicer
Landfill

Spicer
Landfill will be open to the public at Level 2, with slightly restricted hours
(closing at 4pm). There will be more capacity than at Level 3, with one more
bay in operation.

Contact tracing procedures will remain in place and this can be done in advance
using this link to speed things up https://tinyurl.com/y7k698du

No cash – eftpos and credit
cards only.

The bulk recycling facility will reopen.
There will be no contact tracing in place so it’s important to stay 2m from
other people if using this facility.

Trash Palace will reopen, following government guidelines for
retail premises, including contact tracing.

Rubbish and recycling

Rubbish and recycling
collections will continue as usual.

Recycling will be back to normal with mixed recycling, which was
previously going to landfill as the sorting plant was closed, now able to be
sorted and recycled.

Building inspections will continue
provided control plan is in place on site.

Resource
consent enforcement

Site visits will continue for monitoring
and compliance.

Resource
consent planning

Normal resource consenting services will
resume, 1m spacing when around other people with the exception of duty
planning, which will remain by phone in most circumstances.

Noise
control

Normal noise control services will
resume, with officers maintaining 1m spacing when around other people.

Any
large gatherings found (such as parties with more than 10 people) when
responding to noise complaints will be referred to Police.

All
site visits will be subject to strict Covid-19 safety requirements. Any staff
accessing council sites or other premises will follow strict health and safety
protocols including handwashing and sanitising, signing in and physical
distancing.